Kennedy new Juniors Birchmont champ

I first started at the Bemidji (Minn.) Pioneer as an intern in the summer of 1996. That would begin six years as a news reporter, sports reporter and copy editor for a small, six-day-per-week daily newspaper in northern Minnesota. I wrote a large range of stories from multiple beats, to features to sports, my favorite being the coverage of the Red Lake Reservation High School basketball team named the Warriors. Here is a collection of my stories from my time at the Pioneer.

Aug. 2, 1998

By Devlyn Brooks

A second-year tournament player took home the championship Saturday in the Juniors Division at the 1998 Birchmont Golf Tournament held at Bemidji Town & Country Club.

Matt Kennedy of Red Lake Falls, golfing in only his second Birchmont ever, took home the Juniors Championship with a 2-up victory over Juniors veteran Nate Mullally of Grand Forks, N.D.

Kennedy, who last year didn't even qualify for the championship match play, started off early taking a 3-up lead after eight, and a 2-up lead at the turn.

In the beginning, the score remained even until Kennedy shook off the tournament jitters, parring the third and fourth holes.

Mullally, who made it as far as the quarterfinals in the last year's Juniors Championship, took one back on the fifth, making it a 1-up Kennedy advantage.

The youngster new to the championship, pushed his lead to 3-up after eight, taking home Nos. 6 and 7 with pars. The golfers pushed Hole 8, and Mullally won No. 9 with a par to make it 2-up in favor of Kennedy on the turn.

Mullally would be the next to strike again, winning No. 13 with a bogey, closing the match to 1-up in favor of Kennedy. And then he tied the match, winning No. 16. However, with two holes left, Kennedy regained his composure and closed out the match for a 2-up win.

Monday (Qualifying Tourney):

Matt Kennedy (Red Lake Falls) 70

Nate Mullally (Grand Forks, N.D.) 76

Mike Ryan (Grand Forks, N.D.) 76

Keith Duenow (St. Ansgar, Iowa) 77

Adam Evavold (East Grand Forks) 79

Joe McKean (Blackduck) 79

Travis Jackson (Bemidji) 79

Jon Miskavige (Grand Forks, N.D.) 80

Thursday (Quarterfinals)

Kennedy def. Miskavige, 3 and 2

Mullally def. McKean, 2-up

Ryan def. Jackson, 2 and 1

Evavold def. Duenow, 20 holes

Friday (Semifinals):

Kennedy def. Evavold, 6 and 5

Mullally def. Ryan, 3 and 2

Saturday (Championship):

Kennedy def. Mullally, 2-up